How Could You? Hall of Shame-Henrique Cruz

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

This is a missing 2010/2011 case.  From Lubbock, Texas, adoptive parent Henrique Cruz, 52, was convicted of 12 counts of aggravated sexual abuse against his four adoptive daughters. He was sentenced on October 18, 2011 to 40 years in prison.

The only media article was published at Lubbock man arrested on charges that he molested adoptive daughters [Lubbock Online 12/21/10]

“A Lubbock man is facing 16 counts of continuous sexual abuse against children after police say he sexually assaulted his four adoptive daughters for more than six years.

Lubbock authorities this week arrested Henrique Cruz, 51, in connection with the abuse that allegedly started in 2001, shortly after Cruz and his wife adopted the girls, who ranged from ages 5 to 11 at the time, according to court documents.

Cruz this summer admitted to a Lubbock CPS worker that he had molested his four adoptive daughters over the years, according to his arrest warrant that was issued this week.

His attorney, Jeff Nicholson, said “we expect to cooperate with law enforcement.” He added he hadn’t reviewed any reports yet of the specific allegations so he couldn’t comment further on Tuesday.

Nicholson said Cruz retained his services in July or August, which was shortly after authorities launched an investigation.

Police began investigating after one of the girls told her adoptive mother — Cruz’s ex-wife — that he had repeatedly touched her breasts and vaginal area with his hands, according to his arrest warrant. The child said the sexual abuse began around the year 2002 and continued until she moved away from him in June, 2009.

One of the girls said the abuse started when she was 8 years old and they were alone in their house on 90th Street in Lubbock. She said he would rub her breasts and buttocks and penetrate her with his finger.

He also exposed his penis to the child and touched it while making her watch, according to court documents. On one occasion, he made the child touch his penis with her hand.

One of the girls said her adoptive father would sneak into the bathroom and act like he was bringing her a towel, according to court documents. Other times, the attacks would take place in the child’s bedroom.

The girl said that when she got older, her adoptive father began to demand that she allow him to touch her if she needed money or wanted to go somewhere, according to her statement to police.

She said he told her not to tell anybody, and she said she feared the repercussions if she did.

The abuse, the girl said, continued even after her adoptive parents divorced in 2005 because the sexual assaults would continue during visitations.

Two of his adoptive daughters made statements to authorities, but two of the children have refused to talk with police or confirm the allegations.

The adoptive daughters now range in age from 14 to 20 years old.

According to court documents, Cruz admitted to molesting them all for years and starting before they were all 14.

The Cruz couple adopted the four girls, who were blood sisters, and their little brother, but it was unknown if the children were adopted from the foster care system.

Cruz was being held in the Lubbock County Jail on Tuesday in lieu of a $150,000 bond, according to jail records. Cruz, who had a listed address in the 7500 block of 19th Street, was booked into the jail on Monday afternoon.

He didn’t have a prior criminal history in Lubbock County, according to courthouse records.”

Lubbock Online listed grand jury indictments on January 5, 2011   and Henrique Cruz was listed for two different charges, but the number of counts was not listed. He was listed for “continuous sex abuse” and “aggravated sexual assault of a child.”

We found him in a Texas jail inmate lookup where it lists the 12 charges that he was convicted of and the 40 year sentence. I guess that wasn’t newsworthy enough for media to report?

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